My men are exhausted from days of hard travel. They stand at the edge of the ballroom and eye the tables full of food and drink. Our arrival has been all but ignored. We barely stepped inside before the spectacle unfolded before us.
The King expected me, but not until tomorrow. His gaze sweeps to mine and recognition flickers across his features as he gives me a small wave, his expression pinched as if embarrassed that I’m here to witness this display. Little does he know I’m already enthralled by his daughter.
She is fierce elegance, sharp beauty, and fire made flesh—daring anyone to come too close and be burned.
“Careful, my king,” the captain of my guard murmurs under his breath. “You’re staring.”
“I’m not staring, Dain,” I point out. “I am observing.”
“You’ve been observing for quite some time,” he replies dryly.
I glare at him in mock irritation even as a smile tugs at my lips.
He’s right. My attention drifts lower before I can stop it… over the curve of her waist, the flare of her hips beneath silk that cannot hide her lovely form. As she walks by, I fight the urge to reach for her. My fingers flex at my sides, imagining what it would feel like to touch her.
I’d heard about King Edric’s plans to marry off his only daughter. Whispers had spread through the court about Princess Vivienne’s sharp tongue, and her impossible standards.
I bite back a laugh as I watch her burn through each suitor as though they are nothing.Gods, she’s magnificent.
Every male in this room regards her as a challenge, a prize—a troublesome princess. But as I study her, something far more dangerous takes root.
Mine.The thought hits me hard enough to steal my breath. My fangs extend as something dark and primal unfurls deep within, and I fight the urge to cross the room and pull her into my arms.
I want her.Not in the way men want beauty or the way kings want alliances. I want her the way a male recognizes something that belongs to him… even before he understands why. Like a piece of him that has been missing and has only just been found.
She is fierce and intelligent, someone worthy of a crown. Wooing her may be difficult, but I have always loved a challenge.
She huffs, clearly finished with the spectacle, and turns and collides straight into me. Startled, she stumbles back, but I quickly grip her elbow, steadying her before she can fall.
My nostrils flare as her delicate scent—something close to jasmine and vanilla—flood my senses. She’s so close, the warmth of her body radiates to my own, and my grip tightens involuntarily, an instinct I rein in almost as quickly as it surfaces.
Her mouth drifts open as her emerald-green eyes meet mine. A flicker of satisfaction moves through me as her gaze travels over my face, her pupils darkening just enough to betray that she likes what she sees.
“Watch where you’re going,” she snaps, jerking her arm free.
“Apologies, princess,” I reply, inclining my head in a shallow bow. “I—”
“Ugh.” She wrinkles her nose and gives me an imperious look. “You reek of travel. Did you even bathe before you came here?”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. Perhaps I should be offended, instead I’m thoroughly intrigued.
Before I can answer, King Edric walks up behind her, his expression shifting to alarm the moment he recognizes me. “Vivienne—”
“That’s it!” She throws up her hands. “I refuse them all.”
Her voice rings through the ballroom as she sweeps over the Fae lords, Wolf shifter and Bear Shifter princes and kings, High Elf royalty—all men who command substantial armies and hold dominions of wealth and power.
“Not a single one of you is worthy of me.” She gestures to each of them as she goes down the line. “Not the preening peacock, not the walking fur rug, and not the fleabag mutt.”
When she spins back to me, she glares. “And certainly notyou, soldier.”
A faint smirk curls my lips. She is fire and arrogance wrapped in silken luxury, and every one of her would-be suitors is looking at her as though she is a beautiful object to acquire instead of something fierce and alive.
They have no idea what they are looking at, or what I will do if they try to take her.
Gods help me, I’m completely captivated.
She storms out of the ballroom with her father. When King Edric finally returns, I seek him out.
